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narrow-gauge

 - 5 dictionary results

narrow gauge

 
Use narrow-gauge in a Sentence
–noun
See under gauge (def. 13).
Origin:
1835–45

Related forms:
narrow-gauge; especially in technical use, narrow-gage, adjective
narrow-gauged; especially in technical use, narrow-gaged, adjective

gauge

  [geyj] verb, gauged, gaug⋅ing, noun
–verb (used with object)
1. to determine the exact dimensions, capacity, quantity, or force of; measure.
2. to appraise, estimate, or judge.
3. to make conformable to a standard.
4. to mark or measure off; delineate.
5. to prepare or mix (plaster) with a definite proportion of plaster of Paris and mortar.
6. to chip or rub (bricks or stones) to a uniform size or shape.
–noun
7. a standard of measure or measurement.
8. a standard dimension, size, or quantity.
9. any device or instrument for measuring, registering measurements, or testing something, esp. for measuring a dimension, quantity, or mechanical accuracy: pressure gauge; marking gauge.
10. a means of estimating or judging; criterion; test.
11. extent; scope; capacity: trying to determine the gauge of his own strength.
12. Ordnance. a unit of measure of the internal diameter of a shotgun barrel, determined by the number of spherical lead bullets of a diameter equal to that of the bore that are required to make one pound: a twelve-gauge shotgun.
13. Railroads. the distance between the inner edges of the heads of the rails in a track, usually 4 ft. 8.5 in. (1.4 m) (standard gauge), but sometimes more (broad gauge) and sometimes less (narrow gauge).
14. the distance between a pair of wheels on an axle.
15. the thickness or diameter of various, usually thin, objects, as the thickness of sheet metal or the diameter of a wire or screw.
16. the fineness of a knitted fabric as expressed in loops per every 1.5 in. (3.8 cm): 15 denier, 60 gauge stockings.
17. Nautical. the position of one vessel as being to the windward (weather gauge) or to the leeward (lee gauge) of another vessel on an approximately parallel course.
18. Building Trades. the portion of the length of a slate, tile, etc., left exposed when laid in place.
19. the amount of plaster of Paris mixed with mortar or common plaster to hasten the set.
Also, especially in technical use, gage.

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < ONF (F jauge) < Gmc

Related forms:
gauge⋅a⋅ble, adjective
gauge⋅a⋅bly, adverb

Synonyms:
2. evaluate, assess, value, calculate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To narrow-gauge
narrow gauge  
n.  

  1. A distance between the rails of a railroad track that is less than the standard width of 56 1/2 inches (143.5 centimeters).

  2. A locomotive, car, or railway line of this gauge.

nar'row-gauge' (nār'ō-gāj'), nar'row-gauged' (-gājd') adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

gauge 
1440, from Anglo-Fr. gauge (1357), from O.N.Fr. gauger, from gauge "gauging rod," perhaps from Frank. *galgo "rod, pole for measuring" (cf. O.N. gelgja "pole, perch," O.H.G. galgo, Eng. gallows).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 2gauge
Variant: also gage
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: gauged also gaged; gaug·ing also gag·ing
1 a : to measure exactly b : to determine the capacity or contents of
2 a : to check for conformity tospecifications or limits b : to measure off or set out
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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